The Childcare Offer is available from the term after your child’s third birthday until the September following their fourth birthday, when they start full-time school.
Applications open approximately 8 weeks before the funding starts.
Summer Term 2021 applications (April 2021), for children born between 01/01/18 – 31/03/18 can be submitted from 5 February 2021.
All complete applications submitted with all correct evidence by 5 March 2021 will be responded to by 22 March 2021, with a funding start date from 12 April 2021 (the beginning of Spring Term).
Incomplete applications received between 5 February 2021 – 5 March 2021 will take longer to process.
You can still apply after 5 March 2021, but funding may not be guaranteed for the start of the Spring Term and cannot be backdated.
- If you choose to use childcare before your application is approved, you will be liable for any costs of the childcare.
- Childcare Offer funding cannot be backdated for the period before an application is approved.
- You must talk to your childcare provider first as the application form asks you to confirm which childcare provider you are using.
For children born between 01/04/18 – 31/08/18, funding will start at the beginning of term in September 2021. Applications open 04/06/21.